Flexible retaining wall structure



Nov. 1, 1966 c. L. FISHER 3,282,056

FLEXIBLE RETAINING WALL STRUCTURE Filed July 24, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet lHILLSIDE NOV. 1, 1966 c, FlsHER 3,282,056

FLEXIBLE RETAINING WALL STRUCTURE Filed July .24. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 22 E I U) LL! 0:

I EI INA Fm CHRISTOPHER L. FISHER ,4 rrOR/VEI Nov. 1, 1966 c. FISHERFLEXIBLE RETAINING WALL STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July .24, 1961llVVEA/TGQ CHRISTOPHER L. FISHER HrrOPA/E) Nov. 1, 1966 c. FISHER3,282,056

FLEXI BLE BETA IN IN G WALL S TRUC TURE Filed July .24, 1961 6Sheets-Sheet 4 IOO M/vsvroe CHRISTOPHER L. FISHER Nov. 1, 1966 c. L.FISHER 3,282,056

FLEXIBLE RETAINING WALL STRUCTURE Filed July 24. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5MIME/V75 P I r '2 CHRISTOPHEREVL. FISHER Nov. 1, 1966 c. FISHER FLEXIBLERETAINING WALL STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 24. 1961 MIA EweCHRISTOPHER L. FISHER United States Patent M 3,282,056 FLEXIBLERETAINING WALL STRUCTURE Christopher L. Fisher, t. Boniface, Manitoba,Canada,

assignor, by mesne assignments, to Armco Steel Corporation, Middletown,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed July 24, 1961, Ser. No. 128,340 12Claims. (CI. 61-39) The invention relates to new and useful improvementsin wall structures, the principal object and essence of the inventionbeing to provide a flexible curved column or wall which, in conjunctionwith the necessary back fill, will support a compressive load equal tothe compressive load supported by a short vertical column of the samethickness.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure of thecharacter herewithin described which is particularly suitable for use asa retaining wall, as a vertical support for various structures, for useas bridge abutments, and for use in snow shedding structures adjacent tomountain sides and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described in which the requisite support can be provided withrelatively thin corrugated sections rather than the extremely heavysections now in use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is easily adaptable to many designsof abutments or retaining wall structures.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is easily erected on the site andwhich permits the necessary curved sections to be formed readily andeasily from corrugated sheeting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which is extremely simple in construction,economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose forwhich it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects andadvantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates as this specification proceeds, the inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of the principle of the curved columnstructure, showing the continuous lateral support obtained by back fill.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of a short column length of similarthickness to that shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view showing a combination of two curvedretaining walls together with a load supporting platform.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevation of the device shown as a retainingwall or with a load on the upper surfaces thereof.

FIGURE 5 is another retaining wall structure incorporating theprinciples of the invention, and showing the load resting on the upperjunction of the flexible surfaces.

FIGURE 6 is anothersectional embodiment of the structure showing anupper and lower roadway.

FIGURE 7 is a yet further sectional view of the structure incorporatedwith diagonally situated bearing piles.

FIGURE 8 shows a modification of the structure adapted to support aroadway above an underpass.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of the principlesof the invention showing same used for a twin roadway structure adjacenta mountain side and acting as a snow shed.

FIGURE 10 is an alternative embodiment of the structure shown in FIGURE9.

3,282,056 Patented Nov. 1, i966 FIGURE 11 is a view showing theprinciple of the invention utilized as a beam or bridge span and thelike.

FIGURE 12 shows an embodiment of the device supporting a flexible archon the hillside.

FIGURE 13 shows an embodiment of the device utilized as a flexibleseawall or retaining wall.

FIGURE 14 shows a schematic section of a flexible curved surface inwhich the confining influence is inversely proportioned to the radius ofcurvature.

FIGURE 15 shows a sectional view of a composite design utilizing theinvention wherein the apex of the bridge is stabilized againsthorizontal movement.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view of an alternative structure to FIGURE 9.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a relatively 'thin flexible curved column 11 inthe form of a corrugated sheet, having a radius 12 is supported by backfill 13 so that when load is applied at 14 and resisted at 15,continuous lateral support is provided to the member 11 thus giving thelong curved column the compressive strength of a short straight column16 as shown in FIGURE 2, if same is unsupported laterally and is loadedas at W.

If the bending resistance of the flexible curved column 11 is neglected,the lateral support required at 13 in pounds per square inch equals thecompression stress due to the load at 14 (pounds per square inch) overradius of curvature (inches).

FIGURE 3 shows the principle of the invention incorporated as asupporting column for a load W, in which opposed the curved columnelements which are preferably made of corrugated sheet material areindicated at 17 and 18. The curved corrugated sheets have their convexsides disposed toward each other as shown. The sheets are anchored atthe base or bottom edges thereof as at 19 within a longitudinal concretesupport 20. The upper ends of the sheets are spanned by a further member21 underlying the load W and the space between the sheets' 17, 18 and 21is filled with a filling material 22 such as sand or packed earth sothat the greater the load at W the more the fill is compressed orcompacted thus giving greater strength to the supporting members.

Thus a corrugated surfaced structure of triangular configuration canprovide a strong structural section which can be employed as a beam orcolumn even although the surfaces be of a relatively thin metal orflexible material, as long as the interior is filled with a fillingmaterial such as sand, packed earth or the like.

FIGURE 4 shows the principle of the invention utilized as an abutment ona hillside, once again with an arcuate corrugated sheet 23 and 11aanchored as at 24 to a base abutment 25 from which a roadway 26 mayextend, the roadway acting as a retainer for the abutment 25. A secondcorrugated wall is shown at 27, the lower edge of which is connected tothe lower edge of the wall 23 as at 28. The arrows show the direction oflateral support, and it will be observed that one of the flexibleretaining walls increases in curvature (B-C) adjacent the base thereofthus giving greater confinement pressure adjacent the base of thestructure where it is needed. It will be noted that the upper edges ofthe walls 23 and 27 are joined by a substantially horizontal element 29which is notched as at 30 and 31 to receive the upper edges of theretaining walls and 11a, once again forming the desired triangularconfiguration. It will also be noted that the greater the load at W, thegreater the tendency of the structure to engage the hillside rather thanoverbalancing towards the roadway 26, reference characters i and i etc.illustrating the radial loads in this embodiment. Fill is indicated at32.

FIGURE 5 shows a slightly different adaptation of the principles of theinvention, with the curved corrugated sheet 33 and the sheet 34 beingjoined adjacent their upper edges as at and confining the fill material36 therewithin and within the base member 37. In this embodiment theembankment 38 acts as further backing support for the structure and theload W, such as a roadway, rests by one end thereof upon the junction 35so that the corrugated curved surface 33 in conjunction with theconfined fill 36 gives adequate support.

It will be appreciated that the flexible surfaces B-C and BD permit thestructure BCD to accumulate support for loads at B over and above thoseanticipated in the design, and that the embankment, the confined fill,and the surfaces B-D and B-C may adjust slightly to gain this extrastability.

In FIGURE 6 the principle is utilized to support a roadway 39inconjunction with an inclined abutment 40 which in turn may be retainedby a lower roadway 41. Once again the principle is the same and isparticularly adapted for use upon a hillside. The exposed arcuate sheetis shown at 43 and an inner sheet or tie is shown at 44, with filltherebetween at 45.

FIGURE 7 utilizes a plurality of bearing piles 46 situated diagonallyand covered with a flexible bearing surface 47 to retain the fill 48between these piles and the curved retaining wall 49. In this case theplatform 50 gives the necessary stability to the device.

FIGURE 8 shows how the principle may be utilized for an overpassconstruction which may include a roadway or other load 51 supported uponthe upper ends of the flexible corrugated sheet members 52 and 53retained by outer corrugated members 54 and 55 and intermediate fills 56and 57. This assembly is supported by back fill 58, and has a furtherroadway 59 located below the roadway 51. In this view, the flexiblewalls 52 and 53 may be continued clear around underneath the roadway 59as at 60 if desired, and the upper roadway 51 may be in the form of atie holding the upper ends 61 and 62 in place.

FIGURE 9 shows the utilization of the principles of the invention in asnow shed construction on mountain sides which are troubled by avalancheconditions.

It will be appreciated that not only do the supports for the tunnelshave to support the overburden but also are subjected to extreme dragconditions in the direction of the arrow 63 when avalanche conditionsare in existence.

Once again the various flexible sheets are formed from corrugatedmaterial and form the necessary triangular configuration for theconfinement of the fill at locations A, B and C. A tie means 64 extendstangentially over the tunnel roofs, around the inner tunnel surface toan anchor 65. These tie means consist of a plurality of spaced andparallel rods spanned by a corrugated surface material to confine thefill. The tie means 64 are attached to the highest parts of the arcuatecorrugated walls as at 66, 67 and 68.

FIGURE 10 also shows asnow shed embodiment, but in this instance one ofthe flexible walls 69 continues downwardly as at 70 to be anchored to arestraining element 71. A further flexible curved surface 72 extendsupwardly to the tie means 73, and is connected thereto as at 74. The tiemeans is anchored as at 75. The flexible arches forming part of thestructure are backed by fill material as at 76, 77 and 78, such aspacked earth or the like.

FIGURE 11 shows the principle used for beams or bridge spans and thelike and is similar to FIGURE 3. Three curved corrugated confiningsurfaces 79, 80 and 81 are joined together at their edges as at 37respectively shown at 82, 83 and 84, and are supported at the basethereof by member 85. A tube 86 may be inserted along the length of themembers 79, 80 and 81 and secured thereto, and the spaces filled with alight weight fill 87. Once again the light weight fill gives thestrength to the beam as hereinbefore described.

In FIGURE 12, the principles are utilized for supporting a flexiblevertical arch 88 upon a hillside 89 with a A. roadway 90 runningtherebelow. The tie members 91 comprise a plurality of spaced andparallel tie rods 92 covered by surface material 93. The outer edge ofthe vertical arch is supported by uprights one of which is shown at 94.The tie means are engaged with the upper edge of a rear metallic element95.

FIGURE 13 shows the principle of the invention adapted for use as aflexible sea wall or retaining wall and utilizing the two curvedcorrugated surfaces 96 and 97 connected to a reinforced concrete pad 98which in turn is connected by tie 99 to an anchor 100.

The base curved area of the sheet metal wall 96 is maintained againstthe anchor 101 and of course, the usual fill 102 is placed between thetwo curved corrugated sheet surfaces.

FIGURE 14 shows a schematic sectional view showing how a flexible curvedwall surface 103 has a confining influence (i i i etc.) inverselyproportioned to the radii of curvature indicated by R R R etc. In otherwords, the greater the radius of curvature the smaller the confininginfluence so that R i equals R i equals R3l etc.

FIGURE 15 illustrates a cross sectional view of the structure adaptedfor use to form a bridge having a roadway 104 running thereover. Thecurved surfaces 105, 106, 107 and 108, formed from corrugated sheets .ashereinbef-ore described, confine filling material 109 and 110.

therebetween and include the tie back surface 111 constructed asher'einbefore described.

The apex C of the two stnuctures is illustrated at the center of thearchway so that the load W from the roadway 104 gives lines of thrustillustrated by arrows 112 and 113 thus eliminating special footings.Furthermore this particular type of design, restrains horizontalmovement of point C which may cause failure of long span flexiblearohes.

FIGURE 16 shows an alternative snow shed design to that illustrated inFIGURE 9 in which the main supporting portion 114 also contains the twocurved corrugated surfaces 115 and 116 anchored upon a footing 117 andincluding tie back surfacing material 118 constructed as hereinbeforedescribed. Fill material 119 is contained therewithin; and thisparticular construction is of interest in that the greater the load uponthe upper surfaces of the structure the greater the tendency of thestructure to remain against the mountain slope illustrated by the dottedline 120. Once again the tie back surface 118 is tangential to the upperpoints or curved surfaces 121 .and 122 of the two archways or tunnels123 and 124. It will also be noted that columns 125 and 126 are providedto support points 127 and 128 of the structure, these portions acting ina manner similar to the .stnucture hereinbe'fore described andillustrated in FIGURE 3.

In all of the above structures, particularly the snow shed structuresillustrated in FIGURES 9, 10 and 16, it is necessary to relate theradius (or radii) of the curved compression surface to the activevertical load, which produces compression to the confined fill in orderto ensure stability.

However, under certain circumstances of vertical loading, some of thesurfaces are thrown into tension and these controlled tensile stressesin the curved corrugated surface could be permitted if within theworking stresses of the steel.

In all cases it will be appreciated that the ends of the sections shouldb'e closed by covers of concrete or the like (not illustrated) in orderto retain the fill material 11'.

Summing up therefore, it will be seen that the principle of theinvention is to create a shape such that the confining influence of thesurfaces and the force of gravity or supenimposed loads result incomposite action between the surfac'es and the fill material.

In the claims whidh follow, the term compacted fill material is intendedto designate such materials as sand, earth, gravel and the like whichare initially loose, particul-ate or fragmentary, but which have apacking characteristic so that they may be compacted against the wall,as distinguished from a completely rigid material such as hardenedcement or concrete. The term upper portion as applied to a corrugatedsh'eet metal wall means the highest portion of the wall whether this bean upper edge or the highest part of a continuously curved wall as in anarch.

Since various modifications can be made in the invention as hereinabovedescribed, and many apparently widely diiferent embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A load bearing structure comprising a corrugated sheet metal wallwhich is arcuate about a horizontal axis,

said wall having an elongated substantially horizontallower edge portionand an elongated upper portion substantially paralleling said lower edgeportion, the corrugations in said wall running continuously from saidlower edge portion thereof to: said upper portion thereof, saidcorrugated wall by reason of its arcuate curvature having a concave sidewhich is exposed and a convex side against which compacted fill materialis positioned, means holding the said lower edge portion of said wallagainst movement downwardly and away from said fill in a horizontaldirection, means for holding said upper portion of the wall againstmovement laterally of said upper portion and away from said fill, saidlast mentioned means comprising tying means attached to said upper wallportion and extending away from the conv'ex side of said wall andanchoring means holding said tying means against movement in a directionaway from the anchoring means.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1, including a second corrugated sheetmetal wall having an elongated substantially horizontal lower edgeportion and an elongated upper portion substantially paralleling saidlower edge portion, a corresponding portion of each of said walls lacingattached together, said Walls otherwise diverging from each other, therebeing compacted fill material located between said walls.

3. The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein the lower edge portions ofadjacent areuate corrugated sheet metal walls in said structure arefastened together.

4. The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein said tying means areprolonged beyond the upper portion of one of said arcuate sheet metalwalls and are anchored.

5. The structure claimed in claim 2, in which each of said walls is anarcuate wall, said walls being con nected together at their lower edgeportions, the convex sides of said walls facing each other, a thirdcorrugated wall extending between the upper port-ions of said firstmentioned walls and having edge portions attached thereto, compactedfill material being located in the space between the said walls.

6. The structure claimed in claim 2, in which each of said walls is anarcuate wall, said walls being connected together at their lower edgeportions, the convex sides of said walls facing each other, means forpreventing movement of said lower edges away from each other, means forpreventing horizontal movement of the upper portions of said walls, saidlast mentioned means comprising tying means extending between the upperportions of said walls and attached to the said upper portions thereof,and compacted fill material located between the convex portions of saidwalls and exerting pressure thereagainst.

7. The stnucture claimed in claim 1 in which said wall continues beyondits upper portion to form an arch, the said continuation having a loweredge portion, and means for holding said .last mentioned lower edgeportion against horizontal movement.

8. The structure claimed in claim 1 in which said wall continues beyondits upper portion to term an arch, the said continuation having a loweredge portion, and means for holding said last mentioned lower edgeportion against horizontal movement, in combination with a secondcorrugated sheet metal wall having a convex side facing the convex sideof the said first wall, the said second corrugated wall being arcuate inconfiguration and having a lower edge portion and an upper portion, thecorrugations in said second wall extending from the lower edge portionthereof to the upper portion thereof, said tying means being prolongedto extend between the upper ortion of said first wall and the upperportion of said second wall, said tying means being attached to theupper portions of both walls, and compacted fill material locatedbetween the facing convex portions of the said walls.

9. The structure claimed in claim 1 in which said wall continues beyondits upper portion to form an arch, the said continuation having a loweredge portion, and means for holding said last mentioned lower edgeportion against horizontal movement, in combination with a secondcorrugated she'et metal wall forming a second arch having a convex sidefacing the convex side of said continuation of said first wall, saidsecond corrugated sheet metal wall having an arcuate configuration, alower edge portion and an upper portion, said tying means beingprolonged to extend between the upper portion of said first wall and theupper portion of said second wall and being attached to both upperportions.

10. The structure claimed in claim 1 in which said Wall continues beyondits upper portion to form an arch, the said continuation having a loweredge portion, and means for holding said last mentioned lower edgeportion against horizontal movement, in combination with a secondcorrugated sheet metal wall forming a second arch having a convex sidefacing the convex side of said continuation of said first wall, saidsecond corrugated sheet metal wall having an arcuate configuration, alower edge portion and an upper portion, said tying means beingprolonged to extend between the upper portion of said first wall and theupper portion of said second wall and being attached to both upperportions, the said continuation of said first wall and an adjacentportion of said second wall having lower edge portions which arefastened together, there being compacted fill material located betweenthe facing convex portions of said wall continuation and said secondarch.

11. The structure claimed in claim 1 in which said means for preventinghorizontal movement of the lower edge portion of said sheet metal wallis a concrete foundation to which said tying means is also attached.

12. The structure claim'ed in claim 1 in which said wall continuesbeyond its upper portion to form an arch, the said continuation havingan .arcuate configuration, and a lower edge portion, the corrugations insaid continuation extending from said lower edge portion to the upperportion of said continuation, and means for holding the lower edgeportion of said continuation against horizontal movement, in combinationwith a second corrugated sh'eet metal wall forming a second arch, saidsecond wall having a convex side facing the convex side of thecontinuation of said first wall, said tying means being prolonged toextend hetween the upper portion of said first wall and the upperportion of said second arch, said tying means heing attached to bothsaid upper portions, the continuation of said first wall and theadjacent portion of said second arch having lower edge portions whichare fastened together, there being compacted fill material locatedbetween the facing convex portions of said first wall continuation andsaid second arch, and a third arcuate corrugated sheet metal wallextending beyond said second arch, said last mentioned wall having alower edge portion which is anchored, and an upper portion to which saidtying means are prolonged and attached, and compacted fill materiallocated at least be- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS Porter 61-52 Pierce 14-20 Judson 61-39 Pratt 61-16 X McDonnell61-42 Luten 14-26 Brannen 61-16 Scully et a1. 61-16 H-olf 61-43Coke-Hill 61-39 X Weber 61-39 Lane 61-35 8 2,184,462 12/1939 Milliken61-39 X 2,566,748 9/1951 Ringrose 61-39 X FOREIGN PATENTS 12,864 1910Denmark. 830,584 1938 France. 604,264 1/ 1935 Germany.

2,165 1797 Great Britain. 496,475 11/ 1938 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Armco Drainage and Metal Products, Handbook of Drainageand Construction Products, 1958, pages 12-15, 105, 106, 124, 398, 399,442, 446451, and 485.

Engineering News, vol. 72, No. 26, pages 1252 and 1253, December 24,1914.

EARL J. WITMER, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE, Examiner.

1. A LOAD BEARING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A CORRUGATED SHEET METAL WALLWHICH IS ARCUATE ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID WALL HAVING AN ELONGATEDSUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LOWER EDGE PORTION AND AN ELONGATED UPPERPORTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELING SAID LOWER EDGE PORTION, THECORRUGATIONS IN SAID WALL RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY FROM SAID LOWER EDGEPORTION THEREOF TO SAID UPPER PORTION THEREOF, SAID CORRUGATED WALL BYREASON OF ITS ARCUATE CURVATURE HAVING A CONCAVE SIDE WHICH IS EXPOSEDAND A CONVEX SIDE AGAINST WHICH COMPACTED FILL MATERIAL IS POSITIONED,MEANS HOLDING THE SAID LOWER EDGE PORTION OF SAID WALL AGAINST MOVEMENTDOWNWARDLY AND AWAY FROM SAID FILL IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION, MEANS FORHOLDING SAID UPPER PORTION OF THE WALL AGAINST MOVEMENT LATERALLY OFSAID UPPER PORTION AND AWAY FROM SAID FILL, SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANSCOMPRISING TYING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID UPPER WALL PORTION AND EXTENDINGAWAY FROM THE CONVEX SIDE OF SAID WALL AND ANCHORING MEANS HOLDING SAIDTYING MEANS AGAINST MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE ANCHORINGMEANS.